The Enhanced Energy Savings Program is open to all eligible New Brunswick homeowners, regardless of how they heat their homes.
Three important criteria are used to determine eligibility:
No, the Enhanced Energy Savings Program is open to all eligible New Brunswick homeowners, regardless of energy provider (Saint John Energy, Perth Andover Light Commission and Edmundston Energy, etc.).
Complete the online registration form.
Upgrades are recommended based on a pre-upgrade evaluation by a Certified Energy Advisor. All upgrades require approval by NB Power and are determined based on energy efficiency and savings.
Eligible homeowners will be offered a series of upgrades, such as the addition of basement, attic and wall insulation; ventilation for air quality or humidity issues and mini-split heat pumps for efficient heating (see mini-split eligibility requirements in section below). Homes can qualify for some or all of the potential upgrades to be completed at no cost.
Yes, you must own the home and live in it. Eligible participants must be the owner of the property as registered with Service NB. You must be the primary resident of the home and live in it.
There is no cost to participate in the Program. This program is funded by the Government of New Brunswick and administered by NB Power.
If you received funding from the Department of Social Development, you are eligible to participate.
You are still eligible to be considered to participate in the Enhanced Energy Savings Program.
You are not eligible to participate if you are not the rightful owner of the home.
Spouses or common-law partners who are income splitting (which can affect Line 15000 on your Notice of Assessment), must submit copies or photos of the full CRA T1 Income Tax Return for both adults, and the Notice of Assessment.
If you meet the eligibility requirements for the Enhanced Energy Savings Program and rely on electric baseboards as the primary heating source throughout your house, a heat pump may be recommended, if you do not already have one. Similarly, if the eligibility requirements for the Enhanced Energy Savings Program are met and the whole-home heating system is exclusively an oil-fired boiler or oil-fired furnace, then a cold climate air source heat pump or an alternate system may be recommended as part of the home’s upgrades.
No, the mini-splits are an expansion of the Enhanced Energy Savings Program. Eligible homeowners are offered a series of upgrades. The Program targets homes in need of major energy efficiency upgrades, especially those needing insulation and air sealing. The upgrades recommended for your home will be determined at the time of the energy evaluation.
All mini-split heat pumps provided through the EESP will have a 10-year warranty for parts and labour.
Customers are responsible for regular filter cleanings (we’ll provide information to help guide you) and keeping the outdoor area around your mini-split heat pump clean and free of snow/ice build up.
The size and quantity of mini-splits will be based on the expert assessment of your home and can be impacted by square footage and floor plans. In most cases, one mini-split will be installed.
During your home visit, the contractor will determine what is needed to install your mini-split. In some cases, a “pony panel” will be required and the cost will be covered by NB Power. If additional electrical upgrades are required to safely add a mini-split, the cost would be the responsibility of the homeowner.
Mini-splits heat pumps heat, cool and dehumidify your home, keeping you comfortable year-round. They can also save money and energy as they’re much more efficient than traditional heating methods.
The effect a newly installed mini-split heat pump will have on your heating costs varies based on the size, floor plan and your personal usage/temperature settings. We’ll be providing resources to homeowners on how to use your mini-split most efficiently to help you manage your heating and cooling costs.
Anyone who already has a heat pump installed in their home is not eligible for a mini-split as part of the Enhanced Energy Savings Program, but may be eligible for other upgrades like insulation.
We are pleased to expand our contractor network with the addition of qualified Service Organizations and Contractors. Customers accepted in the Enhanced Energy Savings Program (EESP) can now select both their preferred Service Organization and HVAC contractor from those operating in their geographic zone and based on the recommended heating system.
After an application is approved and processed, customers accepted in the EESP will be contacted by NB Power to select their Service Organization and Contractor. We cannot accept selections before an application is approved.
The updated list can be accessed here.
If you do not currently heat your home with an oil heating system, electrical panel upgrades are not an eligible upgrade through the Enhanced Energy Savings Program.
If you currently heat your home with an oil heating system and an electrical panel upgrade is required, this may be an eligible upgrade.
Homes serviced by underground wiring that require upgrading do not fall within the scope of the EESP. If a contractor determines that an electrical panel upgrade is required to install a new heating system and there is underground wiring, the contractor will discuss available options such as the homeowner choosing to upgrade the underground wiring at their expense or exploring other heating upgrades that do not require a panel upgrade.
EESP participants may be able to keep their wood heating system as a backup if they are approved for a heating upgrade. The upgrade contractor will determine if keeping the wood heating system is an option.
The cost of purchasing electric water heaters is not within the scope of the EESP, and NB Power will not be responsible for the cost of terminating existing water heater rental agreements.
If approved for a heating upgrade, homeowners with oil-fired water heaters will be required to replace this with an electric water heater to be eligible for a heating upgrade. This is because your oil tank will be removed and your oil-fired water heater will no longer have a fuel source. Homeowners have the option of renting an efficient electric water heater through their utility or purchasing an electric water at their own expense.
Once approved for a heating upgrade, the EESP upgrade contractor will notify homeowners they will need to contact their utility for an electric water heater rental or to purchase an electric water heater and hire a plumber to have it installed. If the existing oil-fired water heater is a rental, the homeowner will need to contact their water heater rental company to terminate their rental agreement.
Homeowners are permitted to decline upgrades they do not want and will have an opportunity to review and sign their consent to the work with each contractor before upgrades can begin.
If you have a heat pump, functioning or not, this disqualifies your home for a heating upgrade through the EESP, but your home may still qualify for other upgrades such as insulation, air sealing and ventilation upgrades.
We recommend that existing, homeowner-owned heat pumps that are malfunctioning be serviced under warranty if possible and, if not, repaired by a local contractor of the homeowner’s choice. The EESP does not provide replacements when existing, homeowner-owned heat pumps cannot be repaired, are difficult to repair, or when their warranties expire.
For homeowners who wish to install additional heat pumps but cannot through the EESP, please consider NB Power’s Total Home Energy Savings Program. For more information visit SaveEnergNB.ca.
The Enhanced Energy Savings Program (EESP) targets homes in need of major energy efficiency upgrades, especially those needing insulation and air sealing. We rely on the home assessment to determine the heating load of the home and what type of heating options would work best. The intent of expanded Enhanced Energy Savings Program and the Government of New Brunswick is to transition from oil heating and completely remove the oil heating system. Only when conditions prevent removing the system, would it be left in place. This will be determined by the contractor and NB Power.
To participate in the Enhanced Energy Savings Program your original oil heating system will be safely removed by the contractor. This is a requirement to participate in the program.
Yes, you can still apply.
Unfortunately, the Enhanced Energy Savings Program funding would not apply to recent oil purchases.
Contractors will safely dispose of oil in your tank.
Not at this time. The objective of the Oil Heating Transition stream of the Enhanced Energy Savings Program is to help New Brunswickers whose primary and only heating system is oil.
Yes, program participants will be able to select from a list of approved contractors in your geographic Zone that are qualified to complete the work recommended by the Service Organization.
We recently issued four unique Request for Qualifications on the New Brunswick Opportunities Network for heat pump and insulation contractors; contractors to support the Oil Heating Transition portion of the Enhanced Energy Savings Program; and for service organizations to support the Enhanced Energy Savings Program.
Oil Heating Transition is a new stream of the Enhanced Energy Savings Program. If you currently heat with oil and have a combined household income of less than $70,000, we recommend you apply again and select the oil heating option on the registration form to properly categorize your application.
Unfortunately, due to the tremendous number of applications received since the launch of the oil stream, we are unable to provide a timing update at this point.
We encourage all customers to ensure their heating system is in good working order as we cannot guarantee when the oil transition will occur.
You can either proceed with the approved HVAC upgrades right away or we can put your file on hold until the oil in your tank is low. You will not lose your spot in the EESP Oil Heating Transition stream.
Unfortunately, the Enhanced Energy Savings Program funding does not cover recent oil purchases.
Removing the existing heating system will disqualify your home from receiving a heating upgrade through the EESP. To be eligible for a heating upgrade, the home must first be evaluated by the EESP Service Organization, then approved by NB Power, and the existing heating system safely removed by an NB Power contractor.
The NB Power Enhanced Energy Savings Program (EESP) is a provincial program designed to assist homeowners who have a combined household income under $70,000 and a home in need of major efficiency upgrades. The Natural Resources Canada Oil Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) Program is a federal program that offers a $5,000 rebate to Canadians switching from oil heat to an electric cold-climate heat pump. While you may qualify for both programs, please note you cannot participate in both at the same time.
The Enhanced Energy Saving Program provides all upgrades at no cost to the homeowner and the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program offers a $5,000 incentive towards the purchase and installation of eligible cold climate air source heat pump systems.
For more information on NB Power’s EESP and to register please click here.
For more information on NRCan’s OHPA please click here.
The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) Program is part of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative and assists Canadians in switching from oil heating to an electric cold-climate heat pump.
The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program provides up to $5,000 in funding which could be combined with a further $5,000 through the Canada Greener Homes Program initiative.
The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program is available to those households that heat by oil and qualify as median income and below, after tax.
The Enhanced Energy Savings Program is open to New Brunswick homeowners with an annual combined household income under $70,000, regardless of how they heat their homes. The program targets homes in need of energy efficiency upgrades, especially those needing insulation and air sealing at no cost to customers.
If you are eligible for the Enhanced Energy Savings Program and your home is heated with electric baseboards and does not already have a mini-split heat pump, one may be recommended as part of the home’s upgrades. Similarly, if your whole-home heating system is exclusively an oil-fired boiler or oil-fired furnace, then a cold climate air source heat pump or an alternate system may be recommended as part of the home’s upgrades.
For more information on the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program including eligibility click here.
If you will only be pursuing the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program, you can visit the website for more information and to enroll. No energy audit is required.
If you want an energy audit to see what other improvements you can do to make your home more energy efficient and to access extra incentives, you should register for NB Power’s Total Home Energy Savings Program or the Enhanced Energy Saving Program. Remember, don’t purchase or install your new heat pump until you have had the energy audit on your home.
A home energy evaluation audit is not required at this time for the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program and having oil as the sole source of heating for your home is the main criteria for this Program. For more information on OHPA including eligibility click here.
NB Power’s Enhanced Energy Savings Program offers a home energy assessment and recommended measures to those who qualify. This could but does not always include a heat pump. All efficiency upgrades are free of charge to the customer as part of the EESP. For more information visit our website.
